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Global Teach-In: April 25, 2012, Seven Countries, 15+ Cities

How can we move beyond petitioning leaders and get more economic, political and media power for comprehensive change.

Seven countries and more than fifteen cities will be coming together to organize a global teach-in on April 25, 2012. The teach-in brings together leading environmental activists, among the most sophisticated trade union activists in North America, top peace champions and grassroots activists in four continents.

The Global Teach-In: Democracy Networks, Green Jobs and Planning, and an Alternative Financial System

On April 25, 2012, more than fifteen cities in seven countries will convene in a virtual town hall and global teach-in to address pressing problems ignored by political establishments in countries ravaged by the economic crisis or concerned by growing environmental decay. These seven countries involved include the U.S.,
the U.K., Sweden, Austria, South Africa, Canada, and Venezuela.

The event will be livestreamed and link labor, environmental, Occupy and other activists as well as leading scholars and political leaders concerned with the economic, environmental and energy supply crisis.

Principals include the United Electrical Workers, the Ontario Federation of Labour, student debt leaders, environmental leaders, peace activists, and others trying to remake the economy from below with alternative banks, utilities, and cooperative firms.

The Global Teach-In is based on the principle that by moving our money and pushing politicians to promote alternative banks and budgetary policies, we can begin a new political cycle from below and above that will promote alternative intermediary institutions: http://www.globalteachin.com/turn-on-tune-in-drop-in-the-new-economy-virtuous-cycle. These alternatives include alternative utilities, cooperatives and mass transit networks. These democratic or public intermediaries can act as platforms for alternative energy, green jobs and green infrastructure investment. By creating jobs, saving consumers’ money, providing new services, improving environmental conditions and creating a base for popular citizen economic power, we will gain further resources for a green, democratic conversion of the political, economic and media spheres. This cycle shows how we can promote accountability systems, democracy and resources for civil liberties against centralized bureaucracies that are not responsive to public needs.

We will discuss how arms exports and military spending can represent a serious opportunity cost for needed investments in mass transportation and alternative energy.